KORAPUT: A senior technician of Sukhoi division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Arun Kumar Pradhan, was arrested on Sunday on charges of stealing parts of the fighter aircraft, Sukhoi, from the factory premises at Sunabeda in Koraput district. He was produced in SDJM Court which remanded him in judicial custody.

Sources said HAL security personnel at the main gate caught Pradhan in possession of expensive blades of the aero engine of Sukhoi. Pradhan was later handed over to Sunabeda police.

During investigation, police seized over 198 Sukhoi aero engine blades and other parts from Pradhanâ€™s residence at Semiliguda. During interrogation, police came to know that Pradhan, who has a workshop at Semiliguda, used to supply the blades to a private company.

How could the components meant for Defence sector and manufactured secretly by the company be stolen despite strict surveillance within and outside the HAL premises has baffled the probing team.

Suspecting involvement of top officials in the loot, police have rounded up five senior officers of HAL and are quizzing them. The police have also asked for documents related to supply of blades for Sukhoi and other components from HAL authorities.

Koraput SP CS Meena said, â€œWe have already sought more information from HAL to establish as to how the man could steal the blades and make those outside the factory premises for the aero engines.â€

As HAL has its own security, district police have no control over the security of the Defence unit. HAL authority is also looking into the internal and external security of the factory with the help of Defence personnel.